Every gardener knows that it is not so easy to achieve a high yield of cucumbers, especially in open ground. The main enemy of this tasty and he althy vegetable is a disease called downy mildew. Modern chemical agents are not able to completely protect cucumbers from this aggressive infection, and the traditional method of growing them in spreading only contributes to the development of the disease. The only way out in this situation can be trellises for cucumbers. This solution has a lot of advantages, we will talk about them today.
Why not spread?
Experienced vegetable growers know that the introduction of mobile infectious spores occurs through the stomata from the back of the leaves - the spores actively move in drops of moisture (dew, spray from rain and watering) present on the leaf. Harmful spores hibernate on the ground surface, from where with watersplashes and hits the bottom of the cucumber leaves.
As a result, as soon as cucumber plants acquire the first young leaves and begin to spread along the ground, they are immediately attacked by infection, and it is good if the plant has enough strength to bring at least a meager crop of greens. All this happens because many gardeners do not attach due importance to the nature of the plant, and yet it is a herbaceous vine with mobile tendrils and a rough stem, with the help of which it can cling to any vertical support.
Cucumber trellises: benefits
Growing cucumbers on trellises is much more productive than spreading. Firstly, the plant has the opportunity to move away from last year's "deposits" of infection on the ground. Even if some of the spores are carried by the wind, then the lower part of the foliage will be available for spraying with protective solutions. Therefore, the problem of powdery mildew control is practically solved.
Secondly, plants are much more efficiently blown by air and illuminated, so dangerous moisture disappears faster. Thirdly, the number of low-quality (deformed, with spots, etc. flaws) fruits is significantly reduced, because. no contact with the ground. In addition, the total yield increases many times due to the longer fruiting of the plant. Fourth, the conditions and productivity of labor during the care and harvesting of fruits are significantly improved and facilitated.
Site preparation
About the site forgrowing cucumbers on supports should be taken care of in advance. The soil must be enriched with organic fertilizers. Rows of trellises are best placed from north to south - this will save the plants from harsh midday sunlight. Row spacing can vary from about 1.5 to 2.5 meters - this distance ensures the convenience of harvesting not only manually, but also with the help of small-sized equipment. In small household plots, this distance can be reduced to 0.8 m.
Handmade cucumber trellis
As trellis supports, poles are used, which can be made of various materials, for example, pine round timber, metal or reinforced concrete poles, etc. they will carry the load of the entire row. For example, with a trellis height of 2.8 m, the diameter of the outer supports should not be less than 50 mm, and the intermediate ones should not be less than 35 mm. Pillars for cucumber trellises are buried to a depth of about 60 cm. Edge, anchor supports should be installed at an angle of about 70º to the surface of the earth, deepening them by 75-80 cm. into the ground to a depth of about 90 cm.
The maximum distance between the support poles in a row should not exceed 6 m, but if materials allow, it is better to put the supports thicker. Before you make a trellis for cucumbers, you need to decide on the material. It can be a special plastic mesh,stretched between two wires - upper and lower.
You can also make a trellis simply from wire, the thickness of which should be at least 2.0 mm. In this case, the lower row of wire is pulled between the supports at a height of 15-20 cm, the next - after 70 cm, etc. For the top row, a thicker wire (3.5 mm) should be used, because. he will bear the brunt. After planting cucumber seedlings next to each plant, from the bottom row of wire to the top, hemp twine is pulled, along which the vine will move up. A cucumber trellis in a greenhouse is made according to the same principle.
Irrigation
In parallel with the construction of trellises for cucumbers, it is also necessary to solve the issue of irrigating future plants. If you are interested in a good harvest, you should not rely on natural rain watering. There is a practice of furrow irrigation, but this method is not very convenient from a practical point of view, because. muddy soil will interfere with plant care and fruit collection.
The most rational option is drip irrigation. Even in regions with a hot climate, it is enough to lay one drip tape to water one row of cucumbers. And if, after planting seedlings, strips of dark mulching film are laid along the cucumber trellis on both sides, this will help save irrigation water and prevent the growth of weeds.
Planting cucumbers
About a month before planting cucumbers on a trellis, the seeds are sown in cassettes and wait for 2-3developed leaves. Seedlings are planted in calendar terms, when the probability of frost is no longer there. Young plants are placed in a row, at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. During growth, a solid wall of foliage should form, but the leaves should not overlap one another.
The seedless way of growing cucumbers is also practiced, but the seeds must be prepared before sowing. Use for sowing full-weight seeds 2-3 years old, because. they are distinguished by good germination, contribute to the formation of more female flowers, and also accelerate fruiting. If the seeds of the previous year's harvest are used, they are preheated to +56 … + 60 ° C for 4-5 hours or kept at a temperature of + 36 … + 38 ° C for 2 months. In addition, before sowing, the seeds should be calibrated for about 10 minutes in a 3% sodium chloride solution. During the calibration process, high-quality seeds will sink to the bottom, while empty and undeveloped seeds will float. The selected seeds must be washed in clean running water and then treated in solutions of manganese sulfate (0.5 g per 1.0 l of water), boric acid (0.1 g per 0.3 l of water), etc. Seeds are soaked for a day, and then dried. Trace elements stimulate the vital activity of young plants and increase their resistance to diseases.
Rules of care
So, we figured out how to plant cucumbers on a trellis. Now let's talk about caring for trellis plants. This process is completely uncomplicated. After planting, it is necessary to tie the cucumber stem to the trellis, and then, as it grows, its top periodicallycurl into mesh cells or twine. Side shoots should also be sent there. Pinching the tops is not worth it - if they reach the top of the trellis, they need to be gently folded down and brought back into the cells of the cucumber net so that they do not dangle in the wind.
Harvesting
It is best to collect greens early in the morning, before the onset of heat, then the fruits will remain dense, beautiful and can be stored longer. Store cucumbers in a cool place with high humidity, such as a cellar or refrigerator.
